Kunst und Künstler

by Otto Rank

Along with Adler and Jung, Otto Rank was one of the intellectual giants in the inner circle around Sigmund Freud. "Art and Artist" was first published in 1932, after he had broken ranks with Freud and was living in Paris. Rank's thought has had an important influence on many twentieth-century writers and thinkers, beginning with Henry Miller and Anais Nin. "Art and Artist" explores all the complex aspects of the human urge to create, in terms not only of individual works of art but of religion, mythology and social institutions as well. Based firmly on Rank's knowledge of psychology and psychoanalysis, it ranges widely through anthropology and cultural history.

Genres: Psychology, Art, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Psychoanalysis, Self Help, Anthropology

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1932

About the author

Born in Vienna as Otto Rosenfeld, he was one of Sigmund Freud's closest colleagues for 20 years, a prolific writer on psychoanalytic themes, an editor of the two most important analytic journals, managing director of Freud's publishing house and a creative theorist and therapist. In 1926, Otto Rank left Vienna for Paris. For the remaining 14 years of his life, Rank had a successful career as a lecturer, writer and therapist in France and the U.S..

Reviews

[Nativeabuse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this because of how much Ernest talks about it in Denial of Death, hoping to see a more detailed and elaborate version of what he summarizes from it.

I was in for a surprise that I found this quite unreadable, it felt like trying to read Heidegger all over again. I could understand parts of what he was trying to say sometimes, but I'm sad to say on a whole, most of this went quite over my head, which is rare for me (I'm not that stupid I hope).

I might reread this after also rereading denial of death(which I highly recommend to everyone) and then see if I can figure this out.

I'm really kind of mad that I didn't get most of it, because I really wanted to.

[Linda Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd not heard of this psychoanalyst, inner-circle colleague of Freud's, until following a trail regarding art, artistry and personality. Dr. Rank committed heresy by writing that maybe Freud's beliefs might be a little...well, narrowly focused. Oops! Drummed out of the corps., Dr. Rank continued to write prolifically on the new "science" of psychoanalysis, with a refreshing perception as an artist/playwright. I started taking notes during the introduction, and on and on, until it dawned on me the book Dr. Rank wrote was...already written. I was thrilled to find that it's common for creative types to experience a letdown after finishing a project, or major work. YaHOO! I'm not entirely bonkers! It confirms what I've learned: that bliss is in the creative process. Just like life. The joy is in the journey.

[M. Sarki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very difficult book to get through but nonetheless an important one to read.

[Donovan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Art and Artist is an extensive and exhaustive work. I found Otto Rank to be very exacting in his descriptions of the Artist problem. His vast knowledge of historical art, and mythologies, was helpful to the understanding of how the artist ideology is influenced. Although this book contains older ideas on the psychology of the arstist mind, I found most of the work to be applicable to present time artists. I was referenced to this book while reading Ernest Beckers book "Denial of Death". The correlations between Ernest Beckers ideologies about death and living are very influenced by Otto Rank. Art and Artist is a superb study of the artist drive to create and how the artist comes to his conclusions for the art he creates and becomes. I recommend this book to those who are interested in the psychology of the mind of an artist. I grew up with and live with artist who fit Otto Ranks descriptions of the artist life.

[Isla McKetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five stars for the chapters that made me feel seen as an artist - the understanding that play is part of what I must do, that separating myself into workaday and artistic endeavors causes deep pain. Three stars for the art history rehashes (even if they did inspire a poem and help me see something that's happening today in a new light). I bought this book when I still thought Anais Nin was everything. I resisted reading it when my opinion of her changed. Now I find I've needed it for a long time and I'm glad I finally read it. Even if the editor did allow the continual (but consistent) misspelling of Shakespeare.

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't give a thorough review to this book for I haven't finished it yet. I think, however, that this is the type of book that will require multiple readings for me. So far, I think this book is intellectually stimulating, so if anyone is interested in puzzling into his or her own brain, this is the book to read. I first heard of Otto Rank through Ernest Becker's great book Denial of Death. Okay, let me get back to reading this oh, so difficult book.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, fascinating & rich. This far reaching text traces art from primitive to classical to contemporary. Touches on myth, religion, gaming & aesthetics. Primarily it dwells on the psychology of the artist, unconscious motivations and consequences.
Requires several reading to absorb.

[Katy Budget Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard says: A psychologist examines the artistic impulse and makes some shocking discoveries concerning the structure of the human mind itself. I would definitely recommend this book.

[Paloma Etienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can you make it without Otto??

[Victor Morgado · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a self-taught artist for over 50 years, I've often wondered why Otto Rank's contributions, especially in "Art and Artist," seem to be less acknowledged compared to his contemporaries like Carl Jung. This curiosity was reignited during my recent research on André Breton, the founder of the Surrealist movement.

Considering that Breton published the Surrealist Manifesto in 1924, just eight years before Rank's "Art and Artist" in 1932, I can't help but wonder if there was any personal connection or influence between these two radical thinkers. Did they ever cross paths, or were they aware of each other's groundbreaking work?

The enigma was resolved when I stumbled upon the foreword of "Art and Artist," written by Anais Nin, Henry Miller's muse during the 1930s in Paris. According to Anais Nin: "First of all this was the work of a rebel, of a man who stood in a symbolic father-and-son relation with Freud, and who dared to diversed from his theories. Such challenge of analready established and crystalized dogma is usually punished by repression, which is exactly what happened to Otto Rank. he disciples of Freud pursued a relentless excommunication which is only diminishing today with the men who practiced it. Rank was erased from the history of psychoanalysis and from public evaluation of psychoanalytical movements."..
Unlike Jung, Rank considered himself an artist, a poet, author and playwright, Otto Rank as a literary man, when he examines the creative personality it was not only as a psychologist (as Carl Jung would only be) but as an artist himself and moreover, "Art and Artist can be read both as an interpretation of Art itself." It is worth taking notice that Otto Rank was "preoccupied with social problems and felt individual therapy was not enough to solve our problems..."

[Amanda He · Rating 5 out of 5]

When we read Ranks's works, we not only penetrate the world of psychoanalysis but also gain insight into anthropology, sociology, psychology, and art in many aspects; this is because Rank had knowledge in all these fields.

[Peter LaCombe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not yet finished

[Peter Houlihan · Rating 4 out of 5]

currently reading this love myth and illusion de bunkers already l have found it solace i continue to be enriched by reading this volume